Apparatus for stretching textile or other fabrics or materials.



A. LIVESEY.

APPARATUS TOE STRETCEING TEXTILE 0E OTHER FABRICS 0R MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 13,1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

lflblTTEl) STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

ANDREW LIVESE'Y, OF MANCHESTER, ENG-LAND.

APPARATUS FOR STRETHING TEXTILE 0R OTHER FABRICS 0R MATERIALS.

Losetas.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that T, ANDREW LivnsEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 5 Queenls avenue, @ld Trafford, Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, machinery merchant, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Stretching Textile or other Fabrics or Materials, of which the following is a specification. n

The object of my invention is to provide simple and economically constructed apparatus by means of which the stretching of textile, or other, fabrics, or materials, can be very efficiently performed.

According to my invention, the fabric, or material, is passed over coiled springs and these springs are extended from both ends, while the fabric, or material, is in contact with them. so that the springs effect the stretching of the fabric, or material, in a very eflicient manner from the central line, or mid part, of the width thereof toward each side. The springs, after they leave conk tact with the fabric, or material, contract and again come in contact with the fabric, or material, and are then extended again, and so on, thus acting upon the fabric, or material, as it passes lengthwise over them. The springs should be made of wire of such cross-section as to give the necessary grip upon the fabric, or material.

I will now describe, with reference to the accompanying drawing, the constructionof apparatus according to my invention which I prefer, premising that I do not limit myself to this particular construction.

ln the said drawing, Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line A, B, of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a detail, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modification. Fig. 5 is a plan partly in section of a modified form of spring construction.

Upon a fixed shaft l, or other central carrier,are rotatably mounted end-supports 2 at a distance apart exceeding the greatest width of fabric, or material, which the ap paratus is intended to stretch. At intervals around these end-supports 2 are bars 3 eX- tending from one end-support to the other and somewhat beyond each of them. On each of these bars is carried a coiled spring 4, to the respective ends of which are connected sliders 5, which can be moved lon- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 13, 1913.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914..

serial No. 741,75?.

gitudinally on the extensions of the said bars 3 so as to extend the springs 4 from the mid portions of the lengths thereof, these sliders 5 being each provided with a projection 6 which, when the end-supports 2 and the bars 3, springs 4, and sliders 5, carried thereby, are rotated on the shaft, or central carrier, 1, run in a race 7, one such race being fixed to the shaft l outside each end support 2. These races 7 are disposed at such inclination that, as the projections 6 on the sliders 5 run in them, the said sliders 5 are caused to alternately move outward and inward, so that the springs 4 are alternately extended from they mid portion of their length and allowed to contract again, the extension being effected while the fabric, or material, is in contact with them and the contraction taking place after the fabric, or material, has left them. The end-supports 2 are caused to rotate on the fixed shaft by the fabric as it is drawn over the apparatus by a calender, or drying cylinder, or they may be caused to rot-ate by any other suitable means.

Although l have mentioned the projections 6 from the sliders 5 as running in each race 7, T prefer to employ a ring S (drawn separately in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawing) which is confined in each race and adapted to be engaged by the projections 6 so that the said ring 8 is carried around in the race by the projections.

If desired means may be provided for varying the inclination of the races 7 so that the degree of movement of the springs can be adjusted. This is shown in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawing as being effected by making the face 9 of the piece constituting a part of the said race inclined to the vertical central line of the race and adjustably securing the said piece to an inclined piece l0 secured to the shaft l, so that by turning the race piece axially on the inclined piece l0, the inclination of the race can be varied. By the arrangements described the degree of movement of the springs in stretching increases in extent from the mid portion of their length toward each end in a manner which gives a very efficient and equal stretching throughout of the fabric, or material.

While l' have herein described and shown in the accompanying drawing the construction of parts and operation preferred, l wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to this positive construction and opera tion, as changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; for instance, instead of the coiled springs et being extended, or drawn out from their normal coil by the sliders 5 as they move outwardly they may be compressed to a suitable degree and fitted between the sliders 5 when the said sliders are in their inner position so that the said springs always tend to move the said sliders outwardly; again, instead of providing each of the bars 3 with one complete spring, coiled either to the right or to the left, two comparatively short springs da may be provided as in Fig. 5 which are coiled in opposite directions and connected together so as to form a spring of the required length having one part coiled right-handed and the other part coiled left-handed; also, instead of making the springs of wire of triangular cross section, they may be made of wire of rectangular cross-section.

That claim is In apparatus for stretching textile or other fabric or material, rotatable end supports, a pluralityT of bars extending between and rotating with said end supports, slides mounted on said bars, stretching springs coiled on said bars and connected to said slides and means adapted to simultaneously move said slides longitudinally in opposite directions on said bars to operate said and rotating with said end supports, slides.

mounted on said bars, stretching springs coiled on said bars and connected to said slides, each of said springs comprising a pair of oppositely coiled short springs with their meeting ends connected together, and means adapted to simultaneously move said slides longitudinally in opposite directions on said bars to operate said stretching springs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREV LLVESEY.

Witnesses:

Toit BRADLEY, JOHN A. HARRISON.

Copie: of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

- Washington, D. C. 

